Microsoft Education: Collaborations
Collaborations in Canvas allow instructors and students to work together in real time on shared documents. With the Microsoft Education app, instructors can create collaborations from existing OneDrive documents or new templates using Word, Excel, or PowerPoint. This feature:
- Works with most file types stored in OneDrive
- Is available to both students and instructors when enabled in the course navigation
- Supports both individual and group collaborations
- Allows instructors to view all collaborations, even if they’re not listed as a collaborator
Changes are saved in real time, meaning any edits are instantly visible to all collaborators. Follow the steps below to create a Microsoft Collaboration in Canvas.
Step 1: Start a Collaboration
Navigate to your Canvas course and select Collaborations from the course navigation menu. Then select the New Collaboration button and choose Microsoft Education.
Step 2: Choose File Type or Existing Document
- Use the Select Existing Document option to collaborate on a file already stored in your OneDrive. This is recommended for file types other than .docx, .csv, .xlsx, or .pptx.
- If not using an existing file, select a blank file type—Word, Excel, or PowerPoint. A new file will be created for the collaboration.
- Provide a name and description for the collaboration.
Step 3: Assign the Collaboration
People (Individual) Collaborations
Select the People tab and choose the individuals in your course who should participate. When you're ready, click Save to create the collaboration.
Group Collaborations
Select the Groups tab, then click Authorize to Get Groups. You’ll be redirected to grant Microsoft permission to access groups in the Canvas course. Choose Authorize to continue.
Once authorized, select the group(s) you want to assign the collaboration to.
Step 4: Finalize
Click Create to complete the process. After a few moments, the collaboration will appear in the list, ready to view, edit, or delete.
Learn how students view and participate in Collaborations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I edit an existing collaboration?Yes. In your course, go to Collaborations and click the pencil icon to edit the collaboration. You can update the title or adjust who has access.
Where can I learn more about Collaborations?How do I notify students about Collaborations?Use the Canvas Calendar to create course events and alert students to upcoming collaboration activities.